105 Rust Road

The house on Rust Road is one of the primary settings of the novel. The road is located in Danville, Illinois, and is owned by Barbara Ledeux. Charlie first moves to the house when he is still married to Evangeline. He invites Jake over one day, and encourages him to stay. Though Charlie sees the arrangement as temporary, he is still residing here and running his business out of the basement in the narrative present.

Charlie sees the house as a symbol of his failure. When he discovers that he has cancer, he feels discouraged that he has not bought a more grand residence for himself and his wife.

None of Charlie's children want to visit him at 105 Rust Road. They are convinced that Barbara hates them, and does not want them in their house. Though Charlie insists otherwise, as soon as Jake comes to visit, he...